With a statewide machine recount of over 8 million votes underway for three statewide seats in Florida including governor, Andrew Gillum pulled back hard on his concession speech of Tuesday night and vowed to make sure every vote is counted.

"Let me say clearly, I am replacing my words of concession with an uncompromising and unapologetic call that we count every single vote," said the Democratic nominee for governor at a 3 p.m. news conference Saturday. "I say this recognizing my fate in this may or may not change."

It appeared the election was going to his opponent, Republican former congressman Ron DeSantis, on Tuesday night, and he conceded in front of a crowd at Florida A&M University.

But now, he said, those who want the recount stopped are using those words against him. He also called out the president, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. Rick Scott – all Republicans – for using over-the-top rhetoric "throwing out unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and calls to stop the vote."

A supporter's eyes well up with tears as Andrew Gillum makes his concession speech in front of Lee Hall on the Florida A&M campus in Tallahassee, Fla. after losing the governor's race to Ron DeSantis Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

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"We don't get the opportunity to stop counting votes because we don’t like the direction the outcome is heading," Gillum said.

Secretary of State Ken Detzner ordered machine recounts in the the hotly contested races for U.S. Senate, Florida governor and commissioner of agriculture Saturday after the first unofficial count showed all were within the half-percent threshold for the statutorily mandated recount.

With all counties reporting, DeSantis led Tallahassee Mayor Gillum by fewer than 34,000 votes or a margin of .409 percent, with all counties reporting to the Divisions of Elections, including the troubled Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Without acknowledging the recount, DeSantis broke his silence and said in a 1-minute video released around 4:30 p.m. that the results of the unofficial results submitted "are clear and unambiguous, just as they were on election night, and I am honored by the trust that Floridians have placed in me to serve as your next governor."

He added that he appreciated the work of all involved to make sure all lawful votes were counted.

"It is important that everyone involved in the election process strictly adhere to the rule of law which is the foundation for our nation," DeSantis continued.

DeSantis already appointed a transition team that includes U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, former Sen. George LeMieux, former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and House Speaker Richard Corcoran.

"With the election behind us, it’s now time to come together as a state as we prepare to serve all Floridians," DeSantis said. "Since Tuesday night, that is what I have been doing and that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead as I prepare to take office as the 46th Governor of the State of Florida."

Who's in the lead

The candidate most critical of the election process is Scott, whose lead dwindled to less than 13,000 votes over Nelson for a margin of 0.15 percent. He successfully sued Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes over allegedly withholding information.

“We have every expectation the recount will be full and fair and will continue taking action to ensure every vote is counted without interference or efforts to undermine the democratic process," Nelson said in a news release this afternoon. "We believe when every legal ballot is counted we’ll win this election"

Scott also alleged election fraud and said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating the situation. That turned out not to be the case, because the FDLE had not received a complaint in writing from the governor nor seen any evidence of fraud.

The Secretary of State's Office confirmed in an email Saturday that two experts sent to observe Snipes and her administration throughout the result certification process "has seen no evidence of criminal activity at this time."

Nelson and the Democratic Executive Committee sued Detzner in federal court to push the deadline back for filing preliminary ballots. The original judge assigned, Robert Hinkle, recused himself Saturday after remembering "my brother is a party to a lawsuit involving Governor Rick Scott. This would not affect my handling of this case, but a reasonable person might think otherwise."

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Florida Governor and Senate candidate Rick Scott says he is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate elections offices in Palm Beach and Broward counties, questioning whether they were trying to inflate the Democratic vote. (Nov. 9)
AP

Detzner responded to Nelson's motion for a restraining order and preliminary injunction, claiming that the "plaintiff asks for too much too late." All counties had submitted their preliminary results, and two recounts were triggered – a House race in Volusia County and a Senate race in Hillsborough County – with more recounts likely.

"Granting the Plaintiffs any of the relief they seek would force county canvassing boards throughout the State to undo and then redo their work – to undo the current count and stop ongoing recount efforts only to start the process again," Detzner's lawyers wrote. "Significant delays, confusion, and a higher probability of errors would result."

Republican Matt Caldwell, who is down by 5,326 votes or a margin of 0.06 percent against Democrat Nikki Fried in the Agriculture Commissioner race, also sued the Broward County Supervisor of Elections.

Unlike in the U.S. Senate and Commissioner of Agriculture races, neither DeSantis nor Gillum filed legal challenges to the ballot process.

"I haven't seen anything as of this moment justifying legal action or we would have done it," said Barry Richard, Gillum's attorney.

An official ballot for the general election in Palm Beach County, Fla., is shown Nov. 7, 2000. The close proximity of the holes and the numbering system for the candidates caused some confusion for voters. James Prichard, AP

2000: GEORGE W. BUSH. It was a nail-biter election that came down to a contentious recount in Florida, but in the end, the Republican made it to the White House. Bush won Arizona more comfortably. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Broward County canvassing board member Judge Robert Rosenberg looks over a questionable ballot at the county courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., during the 2000 presidential election recount. Rhona Wise, AFP/Getty Images

Photographers take pictures of Kim Watson, who is dressed as Darth Vader to protest outside the Leon County Public Library, while the recount of the Miami-Dade under vote is taking place inside on Saturday in Tallahassee. Craig Litten

AP
FILE- In this Nov. 22, 2000 file photo, Broward County, Fla. canvassing board member Judge Robert Rosenberg examines a challenged vote at the Broward County Emergency Operations Center in Plantation, Fla. The 2000 presidential election was decided in Florida by 537 votes after the U.S. Supreme Court halted recounts. The election increased rancor between the two major parties and highlighted deficiencies in the nation's voting infrastructure. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) Wilfredo Lee, AP

Dexter Douglass, attorney for Al Gore, answers questions from the media who packed into a tight area outside the third-floor courtroom where the arguments for and against the manual state recount were heard. Phil Sears

Leon County Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho, left, and other election officials recount general election ballots Tuesday morning at the Leon County Courthouse. The ballots were left over from the recount that was halted two weeks ago because of the Supreme Court decision. Craig Litten

Leon County Commissioner, Bob Rackliff, and Leon County Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho, recount ballots on Wednesday in the Leon County Courthouse that were cast in Leon County during the general election on Tuesday. (not pictured also counting was County Judge Tim Harley). Allison Long

George W. Bush attorneys Irv Terrell, left, and Phil Beck hand out material to the media in front of the Leon County Public Library, before the Miami-Dade under vote recount began on Saturday morning. Craig Litten

Richard, who was the attorney for George W. Bush in 2000, said this time around is vastly different. First and foremost, in 2000, recounts were driven exclusively by candidates who had the right to designate which counties were recounted.

"Within days of the 2000 election there were 47 lawsuits filed and it went on for 36 days," Richard said.

Gillum asked that everyone seek their better angels as they await the outcome, pointing to the "violence, vitriol and bullying we are seeing in some locations," specifically Broward and Palm Beach counties.

He urged his own supporters to "demonstrate the highest level of dignity and restraint. We can be for our candidate and causes without moving to any physical form of violence, without using heated racist rhetoric."

While it has already been a difficult process, he said, it is not over until every vote is counted.

"I am prepared to accept whatever outcome of this election is so long as every single vote is counted," Gillum said.

Recount deadlines

The deadline for a machine recount is 3 p.m. Nov. 15. If the result of a machine recount produces a margin of 0.25 percent or less, then the Secretary of State must order a manual recount of the overvotes and undervotes rejected by the machine scanners.

The deadline for overseas and military ballots is Nov. 16.

Official returns are due from all canvassing boards no later than noon on Nov. 18.